Review AUTHOR & PUNISHER “Nocturnal Birding”

“Nocturnal Birding” is the new album from Author and Punisher. The project is the brainchild of Tristan Shone, who founded Author and Punisher in San Diego two decades ago. The first album, “The Painted Army”, was released in 2005, and the latest effort is the eighth studio album from this one-man band.

Shone opens the album with a song called “Meadowlark”. It is a dark opening to the album, with dystopian synths providing an emotional counterpoint to fragile vocals. “Meadowlark” is not a happy song. It is an eerie sound collage full of despair. It is extremely powerful though. The collaboration with Kuntari on “Titanis” brings to the fore a combination of slow and intense elements, and things take on a different form with “Mute Swan”. The title hints at a calmer song, which is indeed the case at the beginning. It starts rather sombrely, leading to an explosive section with massive drumbeats.
“Titmouse” is defined by industrial rhythms and has a hypnotizing quality.

The same basic principles apply to the last two songs on the album. Equipped with a slower pace, the raging “Rook” smashes everything before “Thrush” heralds the end of “Nocturnal Birding”.

The new Author and Punisher album is manic and intense – a musical fever dream. Desperation and emotional turbulence are common themes in these songs. Each track places a heavy, dark burden on your soul, emphasised by the intensity of Shone’s musical roadmap. “Nocturnal Birding” is a challenging album with heavy, harsh-sounding songs that reflect the emotional coldness of contemporary times.